Spear



May 19, A. LOW ET AL SPEAR Filed July 19, 1927 a. 3y Mwa' /wa- 4&1

INVENTORJ Patented May lQ, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

enonen A. LownEY, or PELLY, AND WALTER r. HALL) or GOOSE cam, TEXAS SPEAK Application filed July 19, 1927. Serial No. 206,974.

This invention relates to new and useful.

imgrovements in a spear.

ne object of the invention is to provide a device, of thecharacter' described specially designed for the purpose of engaging a pipe, stuck in a well bore, and through which the stuck pipe may be withdrawn from the bore; and the invention also embodies means for releasing the spear from the pipe to permit 1 the withdrawal of the spear in case the pipe cannot be dislodged. Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a spear of the character described which also embodies means through which a pipe cutter may be operated to the end that the stuck pipe may be out into'sections and then withdrawn by the spear, a

section at a time. I

A further feature of the invention resides inthe provision of a device of the character described through which an upward pull may be exerted on the stuck pipe while the cutter is being operated, thus facilitating the cutting operation. i With the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features ofconstruction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given inthis specification and illustrated in the abcompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the spear.

Figure 2 shows a side view thereof, partly in section, and

'Figure3 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly-to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in eachof the figures the numeral 1 designates the pipe or casing to be pulled.

The numeral-2 designates a tubular operating stem, incorporated into which there is a coupling 3, the lower of which is reduced and outwardly threaded, as at 3', the section 2' of said stem beneath said coupling being connected to the coupling and being somewhat reduced. Forming a part of the stem and threaded into the lower end of the stem section2 there is a depending tubular nipple 4 whoselower end isenlarged, forming the annular external shoulder 5, and 7 said enlarged end is externally threaded so that the upper end of a conventional pipe.

cutter, designated generally by the numeral 6, may be connected thereto. Around the nipple 4, above the enlarged lower end thereof, there is a sleeve like mandrel 7 whose external surface is flared downwardly. Between the lower end of the mandrel 7 and the shoulder 5 are the anti-friction bearings 9 which are confined by the annular upper and. lower raceways 10, 10.

Fitted over the section 2 there is a sleeve 11 whose upper end has the internal coarse threads 12 adapted to intermesh with the threads 3'.

The lower end of the sleeve 11,

is vertically slotted to form the separate pipe engaging jaws 13 arcuate in cross sectional contour. The outer sides of the jaws are toothed, as shown, and their'inner sides are-downwardly flared to conform to the contour of and to fit closely against the outer, surface of the mandrel. The mandrel is confined against upward movement relative to the nipple 4 by the lower end of this stem section 2' which has somewhat greater diameter than the adjacent portion of the nipple. The stem section 2 also has an external annular shoulder 14 which is spaced beneath the internalshoulders, as 15, carried by the jaws 13.

In operation the device is assembled as shown in Figure 1 with the sleeve 11 discon nected from the -couplin 3, and then let down into the basing or pipe to be removed.

The jaw teeth will usually be in frictional.

contact with the pipe while the tool is being lowered. If an upward pull be now exerted on the operating stem 2 the mandrel will be wedged tightly between the jaws 13 and will expand them in secure engagement with the pipe 1 and a continued upward pull may result in the dislodgement of the stuck pipe and effect its removalfrom the bore-.,. In case the pipe cannot be thus removed the upward pull may be continued and the operating stem 2 rotated so as to operate a pipe cutter, no

as 6, of conventional construction.

' severed section. If for any reason said pipe or the severed section cannot be pulled the stem may be lowered, carrying the mandrel downwardly :with it, and the outward pressure on the jaws 13 thus released and the lower end of the coupling 3 then screwed into the upper end of the sleeve 11 and the jaws 13 thus maintained out of operative relation with the mandrel and the entire device then pulled out of the bore, or relocated in the pipe 1 for another cut. In case Qf such relocation when the desired point for making a new cut is reached the stem 2 may be rotated backwardly to disengage the threads 3 and 12 and the cutting and pulling operation hereinbefore described, repeated.

While we have shown what we now consider the preferred form of the apparatus it is obvious that mechanical changes may be made and equivalents substituted for the parts shown without departing from the principle of the invention, and it is contemplated that such mechanical changes may be made by us so long as the principle of the invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims is not departed from.

What we claim is 1. A pipe puller including an o erating stem having an annular external a utment, a sleeve-like downwardly flared mandrel on said stem and supported by said abutment, expansible pipe enga ing means around the stem above the man rel, releasable-interengaging means carried by the stem and engag 1ng means respectively, adapted, when engaged to hold said pipe engaging means out oi. cooperating relation with the mandrel, said pipe engaging means having a free longitudina movement on the stem when said interengaging means are released, and anti-friction means between said abutment and mandrel to facilitate the free rotation of the stem relative to the mandrel.

2. A device of the character described into be expanded by said mandrel into 

